Date of Award

1995

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Edith Cowan University

Degree Name

Bachelor of Education Honours

School

School of Education

Faculty

Faculty of Education

First Supervisor

Dr Dennis Goodrum

Abstract

This thesis compares the effectiveness of an activity-based, inquiry oriented approach using simple, inexpensive, locally available equipment with a traditional approach, in enhancing student achievement and positive attitudes towards science in the Maldives. The sample consisted of 79 boys range from 13 to 16 years of age from two year eight classes in a private lower secondary high school. A quasi experimental non equivalent control group research design was adopted for the study. The control group was taught the currently existent curriculum for two weeks in the traditional manner while the treatment group was taught using a curriculum package developed for this study. The students were pre, post and delayed posttested to evaluate changes in student achievement and attitudes. The inquiry group was found to have a higher achievement retention level while no significant differences were observed between the attitudes of the two groups at the p=0.05 level. The study suggests that the inquiry-oriented approach is effective in promoting student achievement and postive attitudes in the Maldivian context.

Download

Share

 
COinS